The Washington MLP program helps providers, patients and families in three critical areas:

Direct Legal Assistance

Since 2008, more than 1,440 families (4,600 individuals) benefited from legal intervention to enforce basic human rights, improve health and prevent future health problems. Based in Seattle, Washington, the MLP assists with housing, public benefits, education, immigration, consumer protection, family law and more. Depending on the case, MLP attorneys offer advice and counsel all the way to direct representation.

Medical Provider Training

MLP lawyers have trained over 3,000 healthcare and other providers, including doctors, residents, social workers, nurses, law students and daycare professionals, so they are able to identify legal issues to better advocate and intervene for clients. Over the past year, MLP provided more than 500 one- on-one staff consultations. In a provider survey, 92% of respondents reported that MLP trainings substantively informed their medical practice.

System-Wide Advocacy to Improve Health Services

When a legal issue impacts a large group of patients, MLP works to bring about systemic changes. Thousands of clients statewide received services and support through MLP-won policy changes regarding health and prevention for sleep conditions, autism, disability income, and more.

In 2011, MLP won a lawsuit that prevented the state from terminating or reducing welfare benefits for more than 8,000 families with disabled children.

In 2012, MLP reached an agreement with the state to ensure coverage for an effective autism therapy, affecting more than 9,000 families.

In 2016, MLP advocated for raising the private duty nursing reimbursement rate for ventilator-dependent children insured with Medicaid. Legislative changes took effect that summer, impacting approximately 275 families across Washington State.

Building a Foundation for Long-Term Health

Medical-Legal Partnership is founded on the idea that effective healthcare targets health problems at their source. Because legal needs significantly impact health, community well-being as a whole is more likely to see lasting improvements if these needs are addressed as an integrated part of healthcare.

Health is a complex interplay of physical health; behavioral health; basic needs such as food, housing, education and employment; personal and family supports; welcoming communities; and quality of life—beginning at birth. Health and recovery services, without a strong foundation of equitable system supports and community services geared to sustain health, do not serve individuals as whole people.

—Washington State Health Care Innovation Plan (2013)

An important note about legal services: MLP does not handle malpractice, criminal issues, personal injury or other fee-generating cases, or other civil legal cases where a referral for services is readily available elsewhere. This website is for general information purposes only. The information included in this website is not legal advice. Legal advice is dependent upon the specific circumstances of each situation.